At a glance

Shirley Bond of the BC Liberals won Prince George-Valemount by 13 per cent in the 2009 election, with just over 2,300 more votes than her BC NDP rival. The riding was created in 2008 from various Prince George-area ridings, including Prince George-Mount Robson which has gone to the BC Liberals since Shirley Bond won the seat in 2001. Before then, the seat was won by the BC NDP for two straight elections.

Bond has held several high profile positions in cabinet over the years, including several ministerial positions and the deputy premier position. Currently, she is the minister of justice and attorney general.

This May, Bond attempts to defend her riding from BC NDP candidate Sherry Ogasawara, a community dietitian and local media personality.

Nathan Giede is running for the BC Conservatives, and Donald A. Roberts is a candidate for the Christian Heritage Party of B.C.

The Tyee has identified Prince George-Valemount as one to watch this May. As reporter Doug Ward describes: "BC Liberal Attorney-General Shirley Bond has won three straight elections, but the desire for a change in government could overwhelm her name-recognition advantage. Prince George, just like Kamloops, tends to switch to the winning side in elections. The NDP really wants a seat in Prince George to beef up its regional representation in the Interior. The New Democrats had seats here when it held power in the '90s. Lingering resentment in the Interior over the HST and any rise in the Conservative vote could hand this riding to NDP candidate Sherry Ogasawara, a long-term Prince George resident and community dietician."

Check out The Tyee's April 29 report from the two Prince George ridings, where the two major political parties are in a fierce fight, here.

Did you know?

Static PG: In 2006, Prince George-Valemount had a low rate of immigrants arriving to the district, and the lowest percentage of people who qualified in their professions outside of Canada.